KEY POINTS:
Days after losing his father and brother in a boating tragedy on Lake Taupo, the sole survivor has been taken to hospital in Auckland.
Shamie Pervan was admitted to Auckland City Hospital on Thursday, and was yesterday in the assessment and planning unit of ward 21.
The unit
houses emergency patients and those requiring assessment.
The Pervan family - understood to be gathering in Auckland - did not wish to talk about the tragedy yesterday, but a source said Shamie had been taken to hospital for tests.
Shamie Pervan's father, Stephen, 54, and brother Ben Pervan, 28, died in the early hours of Wednesday after their aluminium dinghy began to take on water and sank, about 800m from the Tokaanu boat ramp at the southern end of the lake.
Shamie Pervan managed to swim ashore after the three men had spent hours in the water, clinging to a chillybin. He was picked up about 9am on Wednesday.
The bodies of Stephen and Ben Pervan were recovered later that day. Their funerals will be held on Wednesday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Neale Saunders of Turangi told the Herald this week that Shamie was "pretty upset" by his ordeal.
A post-mortem examination was carried out in Rotorua on Thursday.
A police dive squad from Wellington is due in Turangi next week to find and refloat the dinghy.
Residents of the Coromandel yesterday paid tribute to Stephen Pervan, who had lived in the area for at least 10 years.
Mr Pervan lived with his partner Brigette Neave in Tuateawa, an idyllic beachside settlement about 20km from Coromandel. They shared a solar-powered house surrounded by native bush with vast sea views.
Ms Neave owned Weta Design, an arts and craft shop on Coromandel's main street. She was not at home yesterday and the Weekend Herald understands she, too, has gone to Auckland.
Quentin Potae, of Kennedy Bay, said he found it hard to believe Mr Pervan would have ventured out on to Lake Taupo without lifejackets.
"He was actually very safety-conscious. There was one occasion when this pine tree was hanging over the road and it was pretty dangerous for motorists so Steve got the chainsaw out and cut it back. He was that type of guy."
A woman who did not want to be named said Ms Neave was obviously struggling. "It's devastating for her."